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- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. G. MAJOR.

LIFT OR HOIST.

(No Model.)

No. 338,536. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR 6247/1: fizzy! 7774/02 fifi z, ATTORNEYS as mowumn n mr.WaI-hlrlgtun. o, C.

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. PETERS, Phowumo n h Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

INVENTQR ATTORNEYS an Waminglnn. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. G. MAJOR LIFT 0R HOIST.

No. 338.533. Pattan'woi Mar. 23, 1886.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR azaw/k C 67zarl157arfz 7724 91 mad L 0 2/515,}!ATTSRNEYS N. PETERS. PhowLilhognphlr, Washington. D C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. G. G. MAJOR.

LIFT 0R HOIST.

No. 388,536. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 2 2 Q v mar/Z5 @207 77Za/ar ATTORNEYS N. PFFERS.PMIn-Liflwgnphen Withinmnn. D, C.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNDREW,

OF SAME PLACE.

LIFT OR HOIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,536, dated March23, 1886.

Application filed December 10, 1885. Serial No. 185,264.

(No model.) Patented in England February :24, 1885, No. 2,482.

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and a resident of London,

England, have invented certain Improvements in Lifts, Hoists, andPulley-Blocks, (for which I have obtained a British patent, No. 2,482,dated February 24, 1885,) of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates particularly to that class of lifting machineryknown as selfsustaining, in which an automatic brake comes intooperation by means of the pull exerted by the load, and is thrown out ofoperation by the application of motive power at the driving end of themechanism.

The object of my invention is, first, to produce an automatic brakeapparatus which shall be effectual in either directiont'. 6.,

whether the load tends to set the machine in motion in one direction orthe opposite; second,which shall at the same time be free from the jerksand irregular motion common to many previous forms of self-sustainingbrakes,

which shall always be free to receive motion in either direction at thedriving end of the mechanism, the brake being automatically thrown outof action; third, which shall be so arranged that the brake may bethrown out of action by means of a lever, leaving the mechanism free torevolve in either direction under the influence of the load and withoutapplying further motive power. I attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the ac- 5 companying drawings, in which Figure 1 is afront View of the lift, hoist, or pulley-block. Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation of the same; Fig. 3, a plan view of the same; Fig. 4, a sideview of the same, showing the friction-flanges. Fig. 5 is a simpleportable form of self-sustaining hoist; Fig. 6, a side view of same;Fig. 7, a sectional view of same. Fig. 8 is the shoulder notched as fora coup- 'ling. Fig. 9 is a side view of a fixed hoist 5 with long shafthaving a bearing at each end; Fig. 10, a front view of the same; Fig.11, a front elevation of a double-purchase lift or hoist, with powerincreased by means of toothed wheels; Fig. 12, a plan view of the same;Fig.

13,2. front elevation of a simple form of doublepurchase arrangement, inwhich the mechanism turns in one direction only; Fig. 14, a plan view ofthe same; Fig. 15, a side elevation of portable hoist for heavy loads;Fig. 16, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 17, a sectional elevationof the same; Fig. 18, a plan view of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A shaft, A, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) has secured to it at one end alarge wheel, B, suitably formed for the reception of a driving rope orchain, or to receive motion from any other medium,- and at the other enda smaller grooved or other wheel, 0, is secured, over which is passedthe rope or chain for suspending the load. The shaft A is carried in onelong bearing, D, placed between the wheels B and O, and mounted upon abracket, E, in such a manner as to allow a small amount of oscillationof the bearing and shaft. One end of the long bearing D terminates in aflange or mouth, F, of relatively large diameter, suit ably turned(machined) to form one cheek of a friction-clutch. A similar flange, G,is mounted loosely on the shaft A, with its face toward the bearing.Between the two flanges a third and double-faced flange, H, is placed,and is secured to the shaft. The loose flange G is provided wit-h bossesor lugs at the side, from which two bolts, I I, are carried in aninclined direction to two corresponding lugs upon the fixed bracket E.These bolts are adjustable as to length and provided with lock-nuts.They pass through another pair of lugs placed on the side of theenlarged end of bearing D. A limited amount of play is provided in allthe lugs. The bolts are adjusted to such a length as will just allow thecenter flange, H, to run freely.

The action is as follows: The weight of the load or of the lift-cage andbalance-weight deflects that end of the shaft from which it issuspended, and the arrangement of bolts I I is such that they draw theloose flanges G, the center flange, H, and the enlarged end of thebearing F into contact and with considerable force. The bearing D cannotrevolve, the

outer flange, G, cannot revolve, and the flange H is gripped betweenthem with sufficient force to prevent it from revolving, and the wholemachine is therefore held fast. The greater the load the more tightlyare the frictional surfaces forced into contact. On. the other hand,whenthe hand or driving rope (or chain) is pulled'in a downward direction,that end of the shaft is deflected, and as this tends to straighten thelinks or bolts I I the frictionfianges are released sufficiently toallow the machine to revolve. This action takes place quiteirrespectively of the direction in which the machine is to be worked. Solong as the hand-rope is pulled the machine is free, but immediately itis released the weight of the load reapplies the brake.

For lowering quickly by the brake I mount a lever, J, on the fixedbracket E, or in any other suitable position, so that by depressing oneend of the lever it may be made to raise the end of bearing D nearestthe load, or depress the opposite end, thus releasing the brake to anydesired extent. Liberation of the lever J allows'the brake to go onagain. A cord may be carried down from the lever through several floorsto give control at all levels. 1

The friction-flangesF G H maybe placed at the opposite end of bearing D,(see Fig. 4,)

the only difference being that the links I I- must then be inclineddownward toward the loose flange G, instead of upward. The same resultsare obtained if the links I I are placed horizontally and parallel withthe shaft and the center of oscillation placed either above or below thecenter line of shalt, as in Fig. 4.

By mounting the hereinbefore-describcd arrangement in alight suspendingframe (see Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8)I construct a simple portable form ofself-sustaining hoist. In this arrangement the hand-wheel B is made inone piece with a long sleeve A, which takes the place of the shaft. Theload-wheelO is mounted on this sleeve and held tightly up to a shoulderby means of the bolt K. The shoulder is notched, as for a coupling, (seeFig. 8,) and the two wheels are thus locked together. In this hoist, asthere is no permanent weight of cage and balance to counteract thedownward pull of the hand-chain, the latter would, owing to its greaterdistance from the center of suspension, overbalance theload-chain andhold the brake off. If a load were then attached, the machine wouldrevolve in preference to depressing the load end of the apparatus. It istherefore requisite that the brake should be normally on independentlyof the load, the latter only intensifying the action. For this purpose Iextend the bolt K and place upon it a weight, L, sufficient tooverbalance the weight of hand-wheel B and its chain.

If a portable hoist of the last-described form were made for heavyloads, the handwhcel B would be inconveniently large, and

- for the purpose of releasing the brake its distance from the point ofsuspension would be so great as to be impracticable. I reduce the sizeof the wheel and bring back the hand and load wheels close to the pointof suspension in the arrangement shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18. Thehand-wheel B is secured to a hollow sleeve, A, formed in one piece withthe toothed pinion H. The sleeve passes through an oscillating bearing,D, fitted with the flanges F and G and tie-bolts I I, as before. Thepinion H takes the. place of the fixed flange H of previous figures. Asecond shaft, M, is carried at one end in a swiveling bearing, N, and atthe other end in a bearing, 0, whichis linked up to bearing D, sothatoscillations of the latter must be in part transmitted to shaft M.Secured to shaft M are a toothed wheel, P, gearing with pinion H, andalso the load-wheel O. A small spring, L, is placed beneath one end ofbearing D, to coun teract the weight of the wheel B and its chain, andso keep the brake on. The two oscillating bearings are carried in sideframes, Q, suspended from a hook, R. The action is similar to thatpreviously described. The downward pull of load on wheel 0 depresses oneend of shaft M, pulls with it the clutch end of bearing D, and tightensup the frictioafl'anges onto the pinion H. A pull on the hand-chain hasthe opposite effect and releases the pinion H. A lever action, asalready described, is sometimes added. The centers'of oscillation areproportioned relatively to the gearing, so

that the ratio of oscillating leverage is slightly in excess of theratio of gearing, and the release of the brake takes place thereforewith a lighter pull than that necessary to lift the bearing upon thehorizontal arm of a bell-.

crank, S S, the other arm of each bell-crank standing vertically upward.These vertical arms are tied together in any suitable wayfor instance,by a light rod, cord, or chain. The deflection of one end of the shaftwill then cause the elevation of the other, and vice versa. Either ofthe bearings may have the frictionclutch arrangement, as previouslydescribed, save that the links or bolts I I are carried to the verticalarm of the bell-crank, instead of i to the supporting-bracket. Theaction is in all other respects the same as in Figs. 1, 2,3, and 4.

In double-purchase lifts and hoists, with power increased by means oftoothed wheels, I apply my invention as follows: I take a shaft,

A, Figs. 11 and 12, with hand-wheel B, one

central bearing, D, and friction-clutch arrangement F e H, all as firstdescribed; but the load-wheel is replaced by apinion, T. The load-wheelO is secured to a toothed Wheel, 1?, which gears with the pinion T. Thetwo wheels G and 1? run loosely on a pin secured between two parallelbars, M, which bars inclose the wheels. These bars are secured together,and are at one end pivoted to the frame of the machine, or to anyconvenient fixed point, while at the other end they are jointed to thatend of bearing D next the pinion T. Half of the weight of the load (orany other proportion desired) is thus brought to bear upon the pinionend of shaft A, with results as previously described. It is obvious thata train of toothed wheels in any number of steps or purchases may besimilarly mounted between the swinging bars M, giving any amount oflifting-power, and still transferring to shaft A sufficient of the loadto put the brake on.

In the case of a double-purchase arrangement, in which the load isalways lifted by turning the mechanism in one direction only, I carryout my invention in a more simple form. (See Figs. 13 and 14.) Theload-wheel 0, together with its toothed wheel 1?, are secured to ashaft, M, which revolves in ordinary fixed bearings secured to theframe. The shaft A is fitted at its front end with an additionalbearing, U, mounted upon a lever,V. On the lever a weight, L, is placedfor the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of wheel B and itshand-rope. By sliding the weights along the lever its effect may beadjusted to suit varying weights of rope. The weight is some timesreplaced by a spring. Vhen raising or lowering the load by means of thewheel 13, the brake is automatically released, as before described;butif the load tends of itself to run down, the toothed wheel P becomesthe driver, and, transmitting its motion to the teeth of the pinion Tupon the shaft A by a downward pressure, puts on the brake by depressingthat end of the shaft, as before, and to a degree proportionate to theload. This arrangement is also applicable to a train of any number of.

shafts and toothed wheels. The lever V is extended in both directions,and a cord attached to the weighted end enables the attendant toincrease the brake-power by hand for emergencies, while a cord at theother end, if pulled, will release the brake and lower the load.

The devices as described are applicable to all kinds of liftingmachinery in which the lifting mechanism is actuated by belts, cords,ropes, or chains, and which can be so arranged that the stress producedby the driving medium on any one shaft shall have the effect of opposingand overcoming the stress produced by the load upon that shaft, and solead to its oscillation, as described. The stresses may act in anydirection, and are not confined to the vertical.

Having now fullyjdescribed my invention, I would have it understood thatI do not confinemyself to the precise details described and illustrated,as these may be modified in various ways without departing from thesubstance of the invention. I do not claim self-sustaining lifts, assuch, but do claim the following as points of novelty:

1. The arrangement of single-spindle lifting apparatus with oscillatingbearing, combined with the automatic friction brake, as described, andshownin Figs. 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

2. In a lifting apparatus, the combination of the automatic brakeactuated by links, as described, and shown in all the figures, with anyoscillating shaft.

3. In a lifting apparatus, the combination of an oscillating shaft, anautomatic frictionbrake, as described, and a lever, V, for the purposeof releasing the brake, as described, and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9,10,11, 12, 13, and 14.

4. The portable forms of lifting apparatus with automatic brake, asdescribed, and shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8,15,16,17, and 18.

5. The arrangement of lifting apparatus with one long shaft and twobearings mounted in bell-cranks linked together, combined with anautomatic friction clutch-brake, as described, and shown in Figs. 9 and10.

6. The arrangement of lifting apparatus with increased power by means oftoothed wheels and extra shafts, in which the load-wheel is carried in apivoted frame, partly supported by one end of the motive-power shaft,combined with automatic friction clutch-brake, as described, and shownin Figs. 11 and 12.

7. The arrangement of lifting apparatus with increased power by means oftoothed wheels and extra shafts, in which the downward effort of theload is transmitted to the driving-shaft through the teeth of the wheelsonly, combined with the automatic friction-brake, as described, andshown in Figs. 13 and 14.

8. The combination of the automatic friction-brake and oscillating shaftwith an adjustable weight, as described, and shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8,13, and 14.

CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR.

\Vitnesses:

' WM. S. NELsoN,

A. STEAD, Both of 46 Lombard Street, London, Clerks.

